Maxwell reported to A’s camp on Tuesday after a tumultous offseason that included an arrest on assault charges after he pulled a gun on a delivery driver and a he-said-he-said dispute about a waiter in his native Alabama who supposedly wouldn’t serve him because of his protest.

Maxwell started to protest after these types of gestures had already taken footing in the NFL. The reaction in baseball wasn’t any different than it was in football — divisive and controversial — but Maxwell made it clear at the time that he was from a military family, so he had the utmost respect for the military and the U.S. flag. When he took a knee, he also put his hand over his heart and looked at the flag.